Cannabis referendum

The proposed new law to allow people over the age of 21 to legally cultivate, possess, sell and smoke cannabis, is one of the stupidest and senseless ideas this government has suggested.

Just because the authorities cannot prevent the sale and use of this drug should not be a reason for legalising it. The same as saying if they can’t stop people from committing murder or theft, they should allow that too. The intention is to give the public the opportunity to agree to this promotion at the general election later this year, so they cannot be held responsible for the effects on people’s health and behaviour in the future.

Anyone with any sense at all knows the detrimental effects on the brains and attitudes of people after taking cannabis. I cannot understand the mentality of socalled intelligent men and women in authoritive positions even thinking of promoting this well known, debilitating disease.

The Green Party already has a drug reform spokeswoman, Chloe Swarbrick. She admits that cannabis already has left us with a ‘‘dangerous, unregulated black market, which puts at risk, communities and young people in danger’’. Obviously, it doesn’t matter about putting the older people in danger! And yet, they are promoting the introduction of this drug! I would hope that the majority of sensible thinking New Zealanders would give this imbecilic promotion the attention it deserves. D H Darling Timaru